RAM kicked off the year by testing prospects on January 10, 2019, and I would like to thank all the members that donated their Testing Vouchers so that the prospects could take the test for free. I strongly believe that it gives the prospects a very warm welcome.

So, how do you find your test voucher? A few months ago, you should have received an email from American Mensa (noreply@americanmensa.org) with a Subject line of: Invite a friend to qualify for free (I received the email on September 21, 2018). The email should have contained "Your Mensa Voucher Program Code", which a friend or family member can use to take the Mensa Admission Test or submit prior evidence for free. Since I didn't have anyone to give it to, I sent it to Deb.

Again, thank you to all the members that have already donated their unused testing vouchers so that prospects can test for free. And thank you to those that will.

Winter greetings RAMmers! Boy, it’s cold! I hope everyone is keeping warm and staying safe as we get hit with some of coldest days that I can remember in the Richmond area. Or do they just seem colder?

Anyway, I hope you are willing to venture out this month as it’s time for Richmond Area Mensa’s Annual Gathering / Meet and Greet. We’re still in the midst of finalizing some of the details, but we wanted to try something different this time around. Instead of having a 3-4 hour event, we’d like to offer our members a bigger window to come out and enjoy each other’s company, including a variety of activities. So, this month’s RAM AG/M&G will start at 10:00 am and run until 9:00 pm on Saturday, January 27, 2018.

Since it runs all day, this event also includes a lunch potluck and a dinner potluck, so please bring a drink, dish, or dessert to share – that way we can keep the food and drink flowing from morning ‘til night. The clubhouse has a kitchen with a refrigerator, regular oven, and microwave oven. If you are attending, please let me know what you are planning to bring, for either lunch or dinner (or both), so we can plan what food and drink RAM provides accordingly.

The agenda above will take a few folks to pull it off, but the more volunteers we have, the better it should be. Also, since the intent is to hold an event that would result in your attendance, the agenda is subject to change based on the kind of responses we get. Is there an activity not listed that you wish would be included then please let me know? For example, if you have a subject you wish to speak on, that would be great - we could fit that into the schedule. Or, if you want to teach the group how to prepare an awesome dish, that would be great too. If you'd like to lead an activity or just help, please let me know.

Finally, some of our members have commented that it would be great if these gatherings provided some way for their really young kids to be watched while they enjoyed themselves for a little bit. If you’re one of those parents then let me know and, if we get enough of a commitment, then we’ll arrange that. As always, this is a family-friendly event, and members may bring guests; all we ask is that the size of the drink, dish or dessert you bring matches the number in your group.

To keep tabs on the latest agenda, check our Facebook group page regularly or look for email updates as the date gets closer. Please respond by January 21st. For those responding on our Facebook page, please change your "Maybe" response to a "Going" or a "Can't Go" by January 21. On Monday, January 22, a "Maybe" will be considered "Can't Go". And if you mark yourself as "Coming" and then have an emergency that prevents you from attending on the 27th, I'll understand that life sometimes doesn't work out as planned.

I hope I see you on the 27th, whether you come for an hour or two or for the whole day.

Thank You,Santi

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